JPH03259714A - Pointer lighting device for instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize a projection light leak shield member by providing a light guide member which has a reflecting surface in the center of rotation of a transparent pointer and a light projection surface for irradiation around the reflecting surface on the reverse surface of a dial, and its projection light leak shield member to the transparent pointer. CONSTITUTION:The light guide plate 2 is made to contact the reverse surface of the dial 1 and through holes 1a and 1b are generated so that the both are put one over the other; and a projection surface 3 is formed as the internal surface of the latter and a pointer driving shafts 4 is extended into the through hole 2a. The base end of the transparent pointer 5 is bent in an L shape and inserted into the through holes 1a and 2a and the coupling part between the coupling hole 5a of the base end and the driving shaft 4 is colored; and the border surface is used as a 1st reflecting surface 6 and its periphery is surrounded with the projection surface 3. Further, a 2nd reflecting surface 7 is formed at the bent part of the pointer 5 and covered with a shield cap 8. Then a speed scale 5 is lighted by the light guide plate 2 with the light from a light source and part of the light is reflected by the reflecting surfaces 6 and 7 to make the pointer 5 illuminate.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a pointer illumination device for a meter, and more specifically, a pointer illuminating device for a meter, in which light from a light source is introduced into a pointer molded of transparent resin or the like to cause the pointer itself to emit light. The present invention relates to a pointer illumination device for a meter.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, pointer lighting has been adopted for various instruments such as speedometers and tachometers of vehicles in order to improve the visibility of the instruments at night. An example of this will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6-7. A cap 32 is fixed to the drive shaft 33 of the meter, and a pointer 31 made of transparent resin is attached to the cap 32, and this pointer 31 is placed on the dial 34. It is adapted to be rotationally driven by the drive shaft 33. A leading plate 35 is installed on the back surface of the dial 34, and an annular light projection surface 35a is formed on the leading plate 35 so as to surround the drive shaft 33. Further, the base end portion of the transparent pointer 31 is bent toward the dial 34 side, and faces the light projection surface 35a of the light guide plate 35.

The light guide plate 35 illuminates the scale of the dial 34 with light from a light source (not shown), and the light projection surface 35
Light is irradiated from a toward the base end of the transparent pointer 31. Further, the light is reflected by one reflective surface 31a of the pointer 31 toward the front surface of the dial 34, and then reflected by the other reflective surface 31b toward the tip of the pointer 31, causing the entire pointer 31 to emit light. Stir. Further, the light projection surface 3 of the light guide plate 35
Since the transparent pointer 5a is formed in an annular shape, even when the transparent pointer 31 rotates, its reflective surface 31a always faces the light projection surface 35a, causing the pointer 31 to emit light.

On the other hand, when the above-mentioned pointer 31 emits light, the cap 32 hides the inside of the light projection surface 35a from the surface side.
This prevents the light within the light projecting surface 35a and the light that is transmitted to the surface side without being reflected by the reflective surface 31b from leaking to the outside, and prevents the visibility of the instruments from being obstructed by such light. There is.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, there is also a device in which a light-receiving surface 36a is formed at the base end of the transparent pointer 36, and an annular reflecting surface 37a is formed on the light guide plate 37 to face the light-receiving surface 36a. . In this case, the light from the light source is transmitted to the reflective surface 37 of the guide plate 37.
a and is introduced into the pointer 36 via the light-receiving surface 36a, and then reflected by the reflecting surface 36I] and reflected into the pointer 36.
6 is designed to emit light. Also in this pointer illumination device, the cap 32 plays the role of concealing the interior of the reflective surface 37a to prevent light leakage.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the pointer illumination device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the reflective surface 31a of the pointer 31 rotates around the drive shaft 33 as the pointer 31 rotates. A light projection surface 35a must be formed. As a result, the radius r1 of the light projection surface 35a becomes approximately equal to the turning radius r2 of the reflection surface 31a, and the cap 32 inevitably becomes larger.

Similarly, in the pointer illumination device shown in FIG.
Since the reflective surface 37a of the guide plate 37 is formed along the trajectory of the light-receiving surface 36a of No. 6, the cap 32 also becomes large. Therefore, in the conventional pointer illumination device, there is a problem in that the large cap 32 spoils the aesthetic appearance of the instrument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a pointer illumination device for a meter that can improve the aesthetic appearance of the meter by reducing the size of the shielding member for preventing light leakage to the outside of the meter.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention includes a transparent pointer whose one end is connected to a drive shaft on the back side of a dial face and is rotationally driven on the dial face, and a reflective surface formed at the rotation center of the transparent pointer on the back side of the dial face. , a light guiding member having a light projecting surface that is provided to surround a reflective surface on the back side of the dial and that irradiates light from a light source onto the reflective surface; and a light guide member that is provided on the transparent pointer and has a light projecting surface of the light guiding member; The gist of the present invention is an instrument pointer illumination device including a shielding member that shields light from a surface.

[Effect]

The light emitted from the light projection surface of the light guide member is reflected by the reflective surface of the transparent pointer, causing the pointer to emit light. While rotating the transparent pointer,
The reflecting surface always faces the light projecting surface of the surrounding light guide member, and light from the light projecting surface is irradiated onto the reflecting surface. At this time, the shielding member prevents the light from the light projection surface from leaking out of the instrument, thereby preventing the leaked light from obstructing the visibility of the instrument.

Assuming that the reflective surface of the transparent pointer mentioned in 2 is located at a position offset from the center of rotation of the pointer (the axis of the drive shaft), the reflective surface rotates as the pointer rotates, so that it surrounds the reflective surface. The light projection surface of the light guide member becomes larger. Therefore, the shielding member that shields light from the light projection surface also inevitably becomes larger.

In the present invention, since the reflective surface of the transparent pointer is located at the center of rotation of the pointer, the position of the reflective surface does not change when the pointer rotates. Therefore, the light projection surface of the light guide member can be made extremely small, and the shielding member that blocks light from the light projection surface can be downsized.

[First Embodiment] Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a pointer lighting device for a speedometer provided in a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the speedometer as seen from the driver, and FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line X--X in FIG. 2. As shown in these figures, a light guide plate 2 is disposed in close contact with the back surface of a dial 1 of the speedometer, and this light guide plate 2 emits light from a light source (not shown) to display the speed scale of the dial 1. S is designed to be illuminated from the back side. Through holes 1a and 2a are formed in the dial 1 and the leading plate 2 so as to overlap each other, and the inner wall of the through hole 2a on the light guide plate 2 side serves as a light projection surface 3. A pointer drive device (not shown) is installed inside the speedometer, and the drive shaft 4 of this drive device faces into the through hole 2a of the light guide plate 2.

A transparent pointer 5 made of transparent acrylic resin is disposed on the dial 1, and the base end of the pointer 5 is bent into an L shape and inserted into the through holes 1a and 2a. The drive shaft 4 is fitted and fixed into the connecting hole 5a formed at the base end,
As a result, the entire pointer 5 is supported by the drive shaft 4 and rotationally driven by the pointer driving device.

The transparent pointer 5 is colored only at the portion where it connects to the drive shaft 4, and the boundary surface between this colored portion and the transparent portion serves as a first reflective surface 6. Therefore, this first reflecting surface 6 is located on the axis of the drive shaft 4.

The first reflective surface 6 forms an angle of 45° with respect to the axis of the drive shaft 4, is located within the through hole 2a of the light guide plate 2, and is surrounded by the light projecting surface 3. Further, a second reflective surface 7 opposite to the first reflective surface 6 is formed at the bending point of the transparent pointer 5 on the front side of the dial 1.
The angle of the reflective surface 7 is set to be orthogonal to the first reflective surface 6. The colored portion and the transparent portion of the transparent pointer 5 are integrally molded by a molding method such as two-color molding to ensure the necessary strength.

A cap 8 serving as a shielding member is placed over the second reflective surface 7 of the transparent pointer 5 from the surface side of the speedometer (driver side). The cap 8 is made of colored ABS resin, and together with the second reflective surface 7, hides the through holes Ia and 2a from the surface side (driver side). Further, a resin layer 9 colored by hot stamping or the like is formed on the lower surface of the transparent pointer 5.

Next, the operation of the meter pointer illumination device configured as described above will be explained.

The pointer 5 is rotatably driven by a pointer drive device via the drive shaft 4, and the speed scale S on the dial 1 changes depending on the angle.
point to. Further, when the driver operates a light switch when driving at night or in a tunnel, light is emitted from the light source, and the light guide plate 2 illuminates each speed scale S from the back side of the dial 1 with the light. At the same time, a part of the light from the light source is irradiated from the light projection surface 3 of the light guide plate 2 to the first reflective surface 6 of the hands 5, and is reflected by this first reflective surface 6 at right angles toward the front surface of the dial 1. and is irradiated onto the second reflective surface 7. Further, the light is reflected toward the tip of the pointer 5 by the second reflecting surface 7, causing the pointer 5 to emit light.

As described above, the light projection surface 3 of the light guide plate 2 is located at the first point of the transparent pointer 5.
Since it surrounds the reflective surface 6, the first reflective surface 6 always faces the light projection surface 3 regardless of the rotation angle of the pointer 5. Therefore, the light from the light guide plate 2 is always introduced into the transparent pointer 5, causing the pointer 5 to emit light.

Further, as described above, the first and second reflective surfaces 6 of the transparent pointer 5
, 7 and the transparent holes 1a and 2a of the dial 1 and the light guide plate 2 are hidden by the cap 8, so that the light projection surface 3 of the guide plate 2 is hidden.
This cap 8 prevents the light inside and the light that has passed through without being reflected by the second reflective surface 7 from leaking to the driver side. Therefore, the visibility of the driver is prevented from being obstructed by such light.

On the other hand, as described above, since the first reflective surface 6 of the transparent pointer 5 is located at the rotation center of the transparent pointer 5 (axis L of the drive shaft 4), even if the pointer 5 rotates, the first reflective surface 6 will remain in position. does not change. Therefore, compared to the case where the first reflective surface 6 is located at an eccentric position with respect to the axis and the reflective surface 6 rotates as the pointer 5 rotates, the projection surface 3 surrounding the first reflective surface 6 is The diameter can be made extremely small. As a result, it becomes possible to downsize the cap 8 for preventing light leakage from the light projection surface 3.

In this way, in the pointer illumination device of this embodiment, since the first reflective surface 6 is formed at the rotation center of the transparent pointer 5, the position of the first reflective surface 6 does not change when the pointer 5 rotates, and this first reflective surface 6 The diameter of the light projection surface 3 of the light guide plate 2 surrounding the light guide plate 2 can be made extremely small. Therefore, the cap 8 for preventing light leakage from the light projection surface 3 can be made smaller and the aesthetic appearance of the instrument can be improved.

0 Furthermore, since the structural difference between the pointer illumination device of this embodiment and a normal illumination device is mainly in the pointer 5, the above can be achieved by simply replacing parts without significantly changing the specifications of the existing instrument. It is possible to obtain the effect of improving the aesthetic appearance.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in another speedometer pointer illumination device will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the speedometer as seen from the driver, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the Y=Y line in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pointer. The transparent pointer 11 of this embodiment consists of a pointing member 12 for pointing to the speed scale S on the dial 1 and a base member 13 supporting the pointing member 12. Both members 12 and 13 are made of transparent ABS resin. has been done. Moreover, this instruction member 12
and the proximal end member 13 are connected by a cap 14 on the shielding side, and the cap 14 is made of colored acrylic resin. The base end member 13 is bent into an L shape,
A drive shaft 4 is fitted and fixed into the connecting hole 13a at one end. As described above, the proximal member 1
3 is L-shaped, the pointer 11 extends rearward from the drive shaft 4.

A first reflective surface 15 is formed on the base member 13 as in the pointer illumination device of the first embodiment, and a second reflective surface 1 is formed on the base member 13.
6 is formed at the same angle as the first reflective surface 15. or,
A third reflective surface 17 facing the second reflective surface 16 is formed on the base end member 13, and this third reflective surface 17 also has the same angle as the first reflective surface 15.

The cap 14 is attached to the base member 13 on the surface side of the speedometer (
The light shielding portion 14a of the cap 14 hides the through holes 1a and 2a from the surface side (driver side) together with the base end member 13 including the second reflective surface 16. Further, an engagement hole 18 is formed in this cap 14,
The instruction member 12 is fitted and fixed into the engagement hole 18 from the front. The rear side of the indicating member 12 and the rear side of the proximal member 13 are in contact with each other, and the indicating member 12 is formed with a fourth reflective surface 129 that faces the third reflective surface 17 of the proximal member 13. . This fourth reflective surface 19 is set at an angle perpendicular to the third reflective surface 17, and the fourth reflective surface 19 is set at an angle perpendicular to the third reflective surface 17.
It is hidden from the surface side of the speedometer by the light shielding part 14b of No. 4. Further, a colored resin layer 20 is formed on the lower surface of the indicating member 12.

Next, the operation of the meter pointer illumination device configured as described above will be explained.

The basic operation of the pointer illumination device of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the transparent pointer 11 is rotationally driven by the pointer driving device to point to the speed scale S on the dial 1, and With the switch operation, the speed scale S is illuminated on the light guide member 2.

Also, a part of the light from the light source is transmitted from the light guide plate 2 to the first point of the pointer 11.
The light is irradiated onto the reflective surface 15 and is reflected by the first reflective surface 15 at right angles toward the surface side of the dial 1, and then reflected onto the second reflective surface 16.
is irradiated. Further, the light is once reflected backward from the pointer 11 by the second reflecting surface 16, and then reflected at right angles in sequence by the third and fourth reflecting surfaces 17, 19, and reaches the tip of the pointer 11. Since the light reflected by the first reflective surface 15 is guided once to the rear end of the pointer 11 and then to the tip side, the entire pointer 11 emits light from the tip to the rear end.

Furthermore, as described above, the second reflective surface 16 and the through holes la, 2
a is hidden by the light shielding part 14a of the cap 14, this prevents the light in the light projection surface 3 of the light guide plate 2 and the light transmitted without being reflected by the second reflective surface 16 from leaking to the driver side. Cap 14 prevents this. Similarly, the fourth reflective surface 19
Because it is hidden by the light shielding part 14b, the fourth reflective surface 1
This cap 14 prevents the light that is transmitted without being reflected at step 9 from leaking to the driver's side. Therefore, the visibility of the driver is prevented from being obstructed by such light.

On the other hand, as described above, since the first reflective surface 15 is located at the rotation center of the transparent pointer 11 (axis L of the drive shaft 4), the position of the first reflective surface 15 does not change even if the pointer 11 rotates. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, the diameter of the light projection surface 3 surrounding the first reflective surface 15 can be set to be extremely small. In the case of this embodiment, since the pointer 11 is extended rearward, the vertical dimension of the cap 14 (the longitudinal dimension of the pointer 11) cannot be reduced, but the horizontal dimension can be reduced. This allows the cap 14 to be made smaller.

In this way, the pointer illumination device of this embodiment, like the illumination device of the first embodiment, has the first reflective surface 15 formed at the rotation center of the transparent pointer 11, so that when the pointer 11 rotates, the first reflective surface 15
5 does not change, and the diameter of the light projection surface 3 of the light guide plate 2 surrounding the first reflective surface 15 can be set to be extremely small.

Therefore, the lateral dimension of the cap 14 for preventing light leakage from the light projection surface 3 can be reduced to make it more compact, and the aesthetic appearance of the instrument can be improved.

In addition, since the difference in structure compared to a normal lighting device is mainly in the pointer 11, the above-mentioned aesthetic improvement effect can be achieved by simply replacing parts without significantly changing the specifications of the existing instrument. Obtainable.

Furthermore, the pointer illumination device of this embodiment extends the pointer 11 to the rear side of the drive shaft 4 and guides the light reflected by the first reflecting surface 15 to the rear end of the pointer 11 by the second reflecting surface 16. After that, I guided it to the tip side. Therefore, the drive shaft 4
The entire part of the pointer 11, including the upper part, can be emitted from the rearmost part to the frontmost part, and the light emitting area of the pointer 11 can be increased, making it easier for the driver to visually recognize the pointer 11.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above. For example, each of the above embodiments has been embodied in a pointer illumination device for a speedometer provided in a vehicle, but it may also be applied to other than vehicle use. It may be embodied in a meter pointer illumination device.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the annular light projection surface 3 is formed on the leading plate 2, and the first reflecting surface 6°15 together with the hands 5 and 11 has an angle of 360°.
Although the light from the projection surface 3 can be received no matter which angle it is rotated, if the rotation range of the hands 5, 11 is narrow, the projection surface 3 is not formed in an annular shape, and the projection surface 3 is not annular. The light surface 3 may be formed in an arc shape only in the rotation region of the first reflecting surface 6°15, for example, only in a 60° range.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, resin caps 8 and 14 are used as shielding members to prevent light leakage, but for example, the shapes of the base ends of the transparent pointers 5 and 11 may be changed to provide caps 8 and 14. Through hole 1a instead of 14.

2a may be concealed, and the upper surface of its base end portion may be printed to prevent light leakage.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As detailed above, the instrument pointer illumination device of the present invention has the excellent effect of reducing the size of the shielding member for preventing light leakage outside the instrument and improving the aesthetic appearance of the instrument. Demonstrate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams showing the pointer illumination device of the first embodiment, Figure 1 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in Figure 2, and Figure 2 is a partial front view of the speedometer as seen from the driver. , Figures 3 to 5 are diagrams showing the pointer illumination device of the second embodiment, Figure 3 is a partial front view of the speedometer as seen from the driver, and Figure 4 is a cross section taken along line l-Y in Figure 3. 5 is a perspective view of the pointer, FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a conventional pointer illumination device, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the same conventional pointer, and FIG. 8 is a different conventional pointer illumination device. FIG. ■ is a dial, 2 is a light guide plate as a light guide member, 3 is a light projection surface, 4 is a drive shaft, 5, 11 are transparent hands, 6° 15 is a first reflective surface, 8, 14 are caps as shielding members , S is the scale.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A transparent pointer whose one end is connected to a drive shaft on the back side of the dial and is rotationally driven on the dial, and a transparent pointer formed at the rotation center of the transparent pointer on the back side of the dial. a light guide member having a light projecting surface that is provided to surround the reflective surface on the back side of the dial and that irradiates the reflective surface with light from a light source; What is claimed is: 1. A pointer illumination device for an instrument, comprising: a shielding member that shields light from a light projection surface of the member.